Gay marine's homecoming kiss goes viral after Facebook success

'Don't ask, don't tell' ban on openly gay service expired in September

An image of a gay US Marine locked in a passionate welcome home kiss with his boyfriend could become as iconic as the VJ Day Times Square photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse after going viral this week.

The public display of affection pic comes five months after the US military's ‘don't ask, don't tell’ ban on openly gay service expired in September.

Posted to a Gay Marines Facebook page on Saturday, the photo of demob happy Sgt. Brandon Morgan clinging to his partner at a recent Hawaii homecoming from Afghanistan in an emotional embrace has received tens of thousands of likes, shares and comments.

"As a gay veteran that pic drew tears to my eyes,” commented one observer on Facebook.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I would see this lifetime."

Jokingly referring to his partner – named in some reports as Dalan Wells - as “the giant in the photo”, Sgt, Morgan thanked those that had sent messages of support.

He said: “To everyone who has responded in a positive way. My partner and I want to say thank you.

“We didn't do this to get famous, or something like that, we did this cause after 3 deployments and four years knowing each other, we finally told each other how we felt.”

During his tour, Sgt. Morgan recorded a Christmas message dedicated to “all my friends and family” - but there was no mention of Wells.

In December, two smooching female Navy petty officers became the first lesbian couple to share the traditional homecoming first kiss.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles said at the time: “I think that it's something that is going to open a lot of doors, for not just our relationship, but all the other gay and lesbian relationships that are in the military now.”